This report, the first in a series of four 1996 releases of students' opinions, represents a continued effort by MetLife to provide insight and understanding to the issues of violence and social tension in American public schools. The survey focuses on the social climate of the nation's public schools from the perspective of public school students…

A study examined the beliefs and attitudes of Mexican-trained educators regarding instruction for minority and language minority students in light of assumptions that students experience better outcomes with culturally and linguistically compatible teachers. Fifteen educators who received their teacher education in Mexico, and whose native…

Under the guise of helping girls, many schools have adopted policies that penalize boys, often for simply being masculine. Arguing that boys need help catching up with girls academically, and need love, discipline, respect, and moral guidance, but do not need to be rescued from their masculinity, this book scrutinizes studies and feminist doctrine…

Described are two longitudinal studies, one British, the other American, which examined the influences of varied socializing agents--e.g., family, school, peer groups--on voting behavior. The studies emphasized the hitherto unappreciated importance of the political, social, and economic climate of society and its changes on socialization. (CS)

Discusses child welfare within the context of social contract theory, developed by Hume, Locke, and Rousseau, and covenant theory, namely, the insistence upon the intergenerational and communal bases of life chances. The two theories are compared and contrasted, and eight regulative principles of political covenant are proposed to benefit the…

The impact of the international donor-supported District Primary Education Programme on the thinking and actions of 234 primary school teachers in South India was influenced by four cultural constructs: "openness to regulation,""sense of duty," and views on social hierarchy and knowledge acquisition. Teachers were receptive to…

Measures the reactions of teachers all over Wales to a number of varieties of Welsh English, as well as Standard British English. While they endorsed the social value of Standard British English as holding most prestige, the Southwest Wales variety emerged as a dynamic and the most truly Welsh-sounding contender for the title of Standard Welsh…

Maintains that the issue of political correctness has gained wide coverage in the press as it relates to higher education academic policy. Reports on a survey of 196 New York State political scientists. Finds that they perceive political correctness as an issue on their college campus and in the discipline, but not in their departments. (CFR)

Maintains that, while geographers have been using films for some time, it is only recently that the full power of this medium has been recognized. Argues that teachers should be aware of subtexts within films that mark significant cultural and political biases. Discusses a list of films used in a college introductory geography course. (CFR)

Describes a Critical Language Awareness course developed in South Africa to open the minds of prospective teachers. Discusses how language may coerce people into accepting as given practices that can be changed. Emphasizes the relationship between language and power and the role of textbooks and official language in reinforcing the status quo of…

Identifies cigarette advertising as an example of marketing harmful products to intended consumers using harmful images. Describes a classroom project in which students learn how to create, increase, and maintain demand. Includes a chart with student-designed "demarketing" campaigns and a bibliography on women and advertising. (CFR)

Discusses a survey conducted in the Tatar Republic of the Soviet Union involving over 800 teachers, students, and parents. Reports that the study investigated opinions about teachers' social position. Indicates widespread agreement concerning the teaching profession's low prestige. Explores reasons for the profession's low prestige through an…

Proposes a social studies curriculum framework based on Ervin Laszlo's life philosophy. Stresses developing appreciation of global human interdependence through religion, community, empathy, and equality, and fusing these values into political realities. Asserts it is the particular responsibility of social studies education to meet this…

Examines views expressed in "Godey's Lady's Book," a U.S. nineteenth-century women's magazine, about the role of music and music instruction. Ideologies, biases, and controversies were expressed in the magazine. Comments that music instruction and decisions about who should receive musical training was highly controversial. Identifies…

Explores the relationship between Latino "machismo" and the "cool pose" of the African-American male. It is suggested that both masculine postures can be used to design empowering psychological interventions in clinical, community, educational, and policy areas. Positive features could be used in curricula of diversity. (SLD)